Leaving your trace behind….

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True love isn’t appreciated once a year…but rather true love is continuous and long lasting. It is not based on desires on the fulfillment of it…but rather it encompasses everything. You accept your love with their flaws and all…

A beautiful story to illustrate true ❤️

Zainab bint Muhammad and Abu El’Ass ibn Rabee’; Zainab was the daughter of the Prophet (PBUH) and her cousin Abu El’Ass, was Khadeeja’s (RA) nephew. He was one of the nobles of the Quraish, and the Prophet (SAW) loved him very much.

One day Abu El’Ass went to the Prophet (SAW) before he had received his mission of Prophethood and said: “I want to marry your eldest daughter”. So the Prophet replied: “I must ask her first”. He (SAW) went to Zainab and asked her: “Your cousin came to me and he wishes to marry you, do you accept him as your husband?” Her face turned red with bashfulness and she smiled.

So Zainab married Abu El’Ass, the beginning of a great love story.

They had two children; Ali and Omama.

Then Muhammad became a Prophet while Abu El’Ass was away from Makkah. Abu El’Ass returned to find his wife a Muslim. When he first came back, his wife said “I have great news for you”. He stood up and left her. Zainab was surprised and followed him as she said, “My father became a Prophet and I have become a Muslim”. He replied, “Why didn’t you tell me first?” Hence a big problem began between the two; a problem of religion and belief.

She told him, “I wasn’t going to disbelieve in my father and his message, he is not a liar, and he is “The Honest and Trustworthy”. I’m not the only believer; my mother and my sisters became Muslims, my cousin Ali ibn Abi Taleb became a Muslim, your cousin Othman ibn Affan became a Muslim, and your friend, Abu Bakr, became a Muslim”.

He replied, “Well, as for me, I don’t want people to say, ‘he let down his people and his forefathers to please his wife’. And I am not accusing your father of anything”. Then he said, “So will you excuse me and understand?” She replied, “Who will excuse and understand you if I don’t? I will stay beside you and help you until you reach the truth.” And she kept her word for 20 years.

Abu El’Ass remained an unbeliever, and then came the migration. Zainab went to her father and asked him for the permission to stay with her husband. The Prophet (SAW) replied, “Stay with your husband and children”.

So Zainab stayed in Makkah, until the battle of Badr occurred. Abu El’Ass was to fight in the army of Quraish against the Muslims. For Zainab, it meant that her husband will be fighting her father, a time Zainab had always feared. She kept crying out: “O Allah, I fear one day the sun may rise and my children become orphans or I lose my father”.

So the battle started, and ended in victory for the Muslims. Abu El’Ass was captured by the Muslims, and news of this reached Makkah. Zainab asked, “What did my father do?” They told her, “The Muslims won”. So she prayed to Allah, thanking Him. Then she asked: “What did my husband do?” They said: “He was captured”. She said, “I’ll send a payment to release him”. She didn’t own anything of much value, so she took off her mother’s necklace, and sent it with Abu El’Ass’s brother to the Prophet.

While the Prophet (SAW) was sitting, taking payments and releasing captives, he saw Khadeeja’s necklace. He held it up and asked: “Whose payment is this?” They said: “Abu El’Ass ibn Rabee”. He cried and said “This is Khadeeja’s necklace”. As soon as the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saw that necklace, he had a feeling of extreme compassion and his heart palpitated for the great memory. The Companions who were present there gazed in amazement having being captivated by the magnificence of the situation.

After a long silence, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) stood up and said “People, this man is my in-law, should I release him? And do you accept the return of this necklace to my daughter?” They answered in unison “Yes, Messenger of Allah”.

The Prophet (SAW) gave the necklace to Abu El’Ass and said to him: “Tell Zainab not to give away Khadeeja’s necklace”. Then he (SAW) said, “Abu El’Ass, Can we speak privately?” He took him aside and said, “Allah has ordered me to separate between a Muslim and a disbeliever, so could you return my daughter to me?” Abu El’Ass reluctantly agreed.

Zainab stood on the gates of Makkah waiting for the arrival of Abu El’Ass. When he finally came he said, “I am going away”. She asked, “Where to?” He replied, “It is not me who is going, it is you. You are going to your father. We must separate because you are a Muslim”. She implored him, “Will you become a Muslim and come with me?” But he refused.

So Zainab took her son and daughter and traveled to Madinah, and for 6 years she refused to remarry, hoping that one day Abu El’Ass would come.

After 6 years, Abu El’Ass was traveling in a caravan from Makkah to Syria.

During the journey, he was intercepted by some of the Prophet’s companions. He escaped and asked for Zainab’s home. He knocked on her door shortly before the dawn prayer. She opened the door and asked him “Did you become a Muslim?” He whispered “No, I come as a fugitive”. She implored him once more “Can you become a Muslim?” Again his answer was a negative. “Do not worry.” She said, “Welcome my cousin, welcome, the father of Ali and Omama”.

After the Prophet (SAW) prayed the dawn prayer in congregation with the people, they heard a voice from the back of the mosque, “I have freed Abu El’Ass ibn Rabee”. Zainab had granted Abu El’Ass’ freedom. The Prophet (SAW)asked, “Have you heard what I heard?” They all said, “Yes, Messenger of Allah”. Zainab said, “He is my cousin and the father of my children and I have freed him”. The Prophet (SAW) stood up and said, “O people, I declare that this man was a very good son-in-law, he never broke his promise, and neither did he tell lies. So if you accept, I will return his money back and let him go. If you refuse it’s your decision and I will not blame you for it.” The companions agreed, “We will give him his money”. So the Prophet (SAW) said to Zainab, “We have freed the one you have freed, O Zainab.” Then he (SAW) went to her and told her “be generous to him, he is your cousin and the father of your children, but don’t let him get near you, he is prohibited for you.” She replied, “Sure, father, I’ll do as you say”.
She went in and told her husband, “O Abu El’Ass, didn’t you miss us at all? Won’t you become a Muslim and stay with us?” But he refused.

Abu El’Ass then took the money and returned to Makkah. Once he returned he stood up and announced, “O people, here is your money. Is there anything left?” They replied, “No, Abu El’Ass, there is nothing left, thanks a lot.” So Abu El’Ass said, “I testify that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammed is His Messenger.” Then he went back to Madinah and ran to the Prophet (SAW) as he said, “Dear Prophet, you freed me yesterday, and today I say that I testify there is no god but Allah and you are His Messenger.” He asked the Prophet, “Will you give me the permission to go back to Zainab?” The Prophet (SAW) smiled and said, “Come with me”; he took him to Zainab’s house and knocked on her door.

The Prophet (SAW) said, “O Zainab, your cousin came to me and asked if he can return to you”. Just like 20 years before, her face turned red with bashfulness and she smiled.

The sad thing was, a year after this incident, Zainab died. Abu El’Ass shed hot tears because of her death and drove those who were around him to tears. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) came with eyes full of tears and a heart full of sorrow. Zainab’s death reminded him of the death of his wife, Khadeejah. He told the women, who gathered around Zainab’s corpse, “Wash her three times and use camphor in the third wash.” He performed funeral prayers on her and followed her final resting place. Abu El’Ass returned to his children, Ali and Omama. Kissing them and wetting them with his tears, he remembered the face of his departed darling.

May Allah be pleased with Zainab, the Prophet’s daughter! May He reward her with Paradise for her patience, endurance and struggle!

Abu El’Ass would cry so profusely that the people saw the Prophet himself weeping and calming him down. Abu El’Ass would say, “By Allah, I can’t stand life anymore without Zainab”. He died one year after Zainab’s death

Life can sometimes put you in very compromising situations or even worse might test every bit of you possible! During these difficult times it’s hard not to crack….but having good thoughts of Allah and knowing that He can bring you out if it can lighten the burden. Remember you are not alone. Alhamdulillah

Allah says in Surah Najm Verse 43

وَأَنَّهُ هُوَ أَضْحَكَ وَأَبْكَىٰ

And that it is He who makes [one] laugh and weep

Therefore seek Him and always busy yourself with His remembrance.

A beautiful reminder from a Sister

It’s easy for the believer to face highs and lows in terms of emaan, the road is never just a straight one, so from time to time you will undoubtedly waver and even at times fall.
Sometimes you might even hit an all time low, one which completely pushes you in the wrong direction due to the force of shaytaan. But the moment you feel this force, you need to muster enough strength to redirect yourself, and push yourself towards Allah.

Any form of emptiness or hollowness which you may be experiencing may be an indication towards the absence of Allah’s remembrance from your heart, and His mentioning from your tongue. Hence it’s imperative that you bring back His remembrance in to your life.

Imagine the abundant blessings which come with being remembered by Allah. Imagine the angels acknowledging you, specifically you.
Will this not be a natural cause of the descent of mercy from Allah? Will such mercy not fill the emptiness within the depth of your inner self?
Undoubtedly yes!

The mercy of Allah includes safety, blessings and forgiveness. All of these combined and bestowed upon you can only mean ease and relief. Relief from any hardship, ease from anything which deters you from Allah.
So give all that you can in the remembrance of Allah, take hold of solitude and comfort yourself with His remembrance and He will comfort you with His mercy and companionship.

May Allah enable us to find ultimate peace in Him and His book, Al Quran Al Kareem. آمين.

Two beggars knocked on the door asking for bread. One beggar was given a loaf and sent away. The other was kept waiting and waiting. At length, the second beggar became concerned. “Why am I being denied? What is so lacking in me that the other one was favoured over me?” he asked himself. Unknown to the beggar, a fresh loaf was being baked for him inside the house.

Let’s remember that Allah’s delays are not always His denials. His timing is always perfect.

Allah has perfect timing..never early, never late. It takes a little patience and it takes a lot of faith but its worth the wait.

We dont know what tomorrow holds but know who holds tomorrow – ALLAH, The Most Merciful, The Most Loving, The All Wise.

“My heart is at ease knowing that what was meant for me will never miss me, and that what misses me was never meant for me.” – {Imam Ash-Shafi}.

Nowadays it’s so hard to be patient especially when we are so fast paced with technology. We almost expect everything to be as fast as how we browse the net!

Sometimes we should sit and think about this and whether or not we are missing a great deal of practicing patience with all this rush rush rush.

A story to illustrate this. Think and ponder

A certain gentleman walked into a hotel and after perusing through the menu ordered for some food.

After about 20 mins another group of gentlemen walked in and ordered for theirs. To his dismay, he noticed them get served first.

He watched as they began to eat and laugh heartily. He even overheard one of them brag about how he knew everyone at that hotel and how things moved fast for him here.

He felt he was being mocked. He contemplated leaving. But he had waited so long.

Unable to take it anymore, he called the waiter and spoke sadly of how unfair things were. The waiter calmly told him, “Yours is a special order Sir, being prepared by the chief chef himself.

Their orders were prepared hurriedly by interns because the top chefs are busy with yours. That’s why they came first.

Please have some juice as you wait”.

Unknown to him the owner of the hotel { who happened to be an old long lost friend of his } had seen him coming and wanted to surprise him and had made changes to his simple meal to make it an exotic meal. He calmed down and waited.

Shortly after his meal was served by 6 waiters and he was waited on hand and foot and being made very comfortable.

The gentlemen at the other table were shocked.

They couldn’t stop staring. Suddenly they were the ones murmuring, asking why they didn’t get that kind of service and meal.

So it is with life ! Some people seem to be ahead of you and eating now, laughing at you about how they know people and how they’re blessed with money and how they’re enjoying life because of it, and how famous they are, how many people follow them on social media, and even if they wrong anyone, people are so taken by them they will defend them. They gloat in that false facade and achievement and become boastful and arrogant, with all their priorities wrong.

You on the other hand have been waiting long wondering why its taking soo long to get your breakthrough, enduring mockery and humiliation.

Do not worry !

The owner of the world has seen you. And doesn’t want to give you simple meals like those laughing at you.

You’ve been waiting for long because yours is a special meal and takes time.

And only the chief chef makes those !

Take heart today.

Wait for your meal and relax. When it comes, the laughing party will be silenced for good.

First we would like to start of by thanking Allah for guiding us to Islam and blessing us with Islam…there is no bigger blessing than the blessing of being a Muslim. Alhamdulillah.

Secondly, we are living in times where woman are waking up to their true nature and are demanding change in different aspect of the society as well as living. Alhamdulillah we are seeing many women give up careers so they can raise their children, and we have seen many women start a career to better themselves and their families. However, today’s post is of the women who gave it all for the sake of holding it together. May Allah bless ALL mothers. Ameen

A woman, renewing her driver’s licence , was asked by the woman at Registry to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

‘What I mean is, ‘ explained the woman at Registry, ‘do you have a job or are you just a …?’

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself
in the same situation.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like,
‘Official Interrogator’ or ‘City Registrar.’

‘What is your occupation?’ she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out.
‘I’m a *Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.’*

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

‘Might I ask,’ said the clerk with new interest, ‘just what you do in your field?’

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply,
*’I have a continuing program of research*, (what mother doesn’t) *In the laboratory and in the field,*
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
*I’m working for my Masters*, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
*and already have four credits* (all daughters).
*Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,*
(any mother care to disagree?)
*and I often work 14 hours a day,* (24 is more like it).
*But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.’*

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, *I was greeted by my lab assistants* — ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our *new experimental model,*
(a 6 month old baby) *in the child development program*, testing out a new vocal pattern (crying).

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than ‘just another Mum.’

*Motherhood!!!*
What a glorious career! Especially when there’s a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers
*’Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations’*
And great grandmothers
*’Executive Senior Research Associates?’*
I think so!!!

I also think it makes Aunts ‘
*Associate Research Assistants.’*

Beautiful huh?! Now from now on use these titles with confidence, no one ever asks you to prove it so use them accordingly. Smile for you have the best job in the world.

You know we live life thinking good of ourselves majority of the time. For example, someone might say something to you but due to pride you’ll make a harsh comment back not caring about the reality of the comment. Or if you really were the type that couldn’t think beyond pride you would actually highlight that you are none of the things that was mentioned. Sometime we live in a bubble thinking that we are magnificent, we force ourselves to brush our habits or bad traits under the carpet. We are too stubborn to accept the truth so that we can make changes. We think ourselves too high! Khayr inshallah..let’s use Muharram to make new plans…it’s a new year so let’s take advantage and plan changes. Remember when we pass away we leave literally everything behind…so recall your deeds so that you can expand them. Make use of the special months and fast where you can, give to charity according to what you can afford, help others and lastly smile! Smiling it’s also a charity.

“When a glass is broken, the sound of breaking disappears immediately whereas the glass pieces are scattered over the ground hurting whoever walks over it”.

Similarly, “when you say something that hurts people’s emotions and feelings, the voice disappears immediately but the heart remains in pain for long.”

Therefore, don’t say anything except good and remember always the nine advises and prohibitions that Allah Almighty gave us in Suratul Hujurat (The Sura of Islamic manners) before you say something to anyone:
1.-فتبينوا:
“Fa Tabayyanu”: Investigate: when you receive an information, lest you harm people out of ignorance.

2.-فأصلحوا:
“Fa Aslihu”: Make settlement: between your brothers as believers are brothers.

3.-وأقسطوا:
“Wa Aqsitu”: Act justly: whenever there is a dispute try for settlement and act justly among both parties as Allah loves those who act justly.

4.-لا يسخر:
“La Yaskhar”: Don’t ridicule people, perhaps they may be better than you to Allah.

You might be wondering what the big deal is all about with fasting tomorrow (Tuesday 11th October). Well here it is

Ibn Abbas RadhyAllahu ‘anh reports:

‘When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he observed the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashurah, so the Prophet ﷺ asked them,

“Why do you fast on this day?”

They replied, “This is a great day. It is on this day that Allah saved Musa and his followers while drowning Pharoah and his people, so Musa fasted this day out of gratitude to Allah. That is why we fast on this day.”

The Prophet ﷺ replied, “We have more right to Musa than you (i.e. we love Musa and follow what he came with [Islam] more than you do),” and thereupon the Prophet ﷺ fasted this day and commanded the people to do likewise.’

[Sahih al Bukhari]

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ about the virtues of fasting the day of ‘Ashurah.

He ﷺ said,
‘I hope that Allah will make it a cause to expiate the sins of the previous year.’

[Sahih Muslim]

It is advisable to also fast the day preceding or the day following ‘Ashurah. One should fast two days: 9th and 10th of Muharram or the 10th and 11th.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

‘If I live until next year, I will fast the 9th along with the 10th (of Muharram).’

These are the best days of the year after Ramadan… Don’t let misery and sadness overwhelm you. Glorify your Lord and be happy to be alive.

Forget whatever made you Sad. Remember all that made you glad. Forget the people who have been untrue. Remember those who stood by you.
Forget the heartaches & the pain. Remember all that you have gained.
Forget the past, its not meant to last. Remember your future. It belongs to Allah’ ALLAH WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!
If you see the moon ….. You see the beauty of اَللَّه سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعالى ….. If you see the Sun….. You see the power of اَللَّه سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعالى ….. And…. If you see the Mirror….. You see the best Creation of اَللَّه سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعالى …. So Believe in YOURSELF….. We all are tourists & اَللَّه سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعالى has already fixed all our Routes, Reservations & Destinations! So Trust Allah & Enjoy the “Trip” called Life . Forget yesterday’s mistakes, leave tomorrow’s worries, Walk today’s road & Climb today’s mountain 💜